BOWLS: Miller trio find form

CHRISTIE Miller’s trio of Chris Easton, Nigel Price and skip Andy Moore have qualified for the final stages of the men’s Over 50 Triples championships, writes DAVE EATON.

The Area 30 winners booked their place in the last 16 of the national over 50 triples at Northampton on February 14-16 with a three-shot victory over Taunton Deane in the inter-area final played at Victoria (Street) last weekend.

Easton, Price and Moore beat the Area 29 winners, a trio from Taunton Deane, skipped by Richard Billington 18-15.

The victory was the middle section of a fine treble in six days for the experienced Miller triple.

Moore’s trio were always ahead against Taunton Deane and picked-up a six on the second end but had been pulled back to 9-8 at ten ends. A five followed on the 11th but they had been pegged back once more and were tied 15-15 at 16 ends.

However, a two and a single on the last two ends gave them an 18-15 win and a place in the last 16 and final stages next month at Northampton.

“We deserved to win as we were always in front,” said Christie skip Andy Moore, “but I never felt comfortable as they came back at us a few times.

“I am so please for Chris Easton that we have reached the latter stages at Northampton and the last 16.

“He is 61 years-of-age, been playing bowls for 33 years but this is the first time ever he has reached the national finals either indoors or outdoors.”

Four days earlier to winning the inter-area o50s crown Easton, Price and Moore had staged a tremendous fightback in the Area 30 national triples semi-final to snatch a last-gasp victory over their shocked Clarrie Dunbar opponents John Freeman, Duncan McGovern and Keith Bailey.

Moore’s Christie team trailed 11-3 at ten ends but then edged their way back into the match aided by a four on the 15th but still trailed 15-13 after 17 and with one end to go.

But with the jack in the ditch Moore’s trio grapped a three on the last end to go ahead of Keith Bailey’s triple for the first time and secure a last gasp 16-15 victory and a place in the Area 30 national triples final against either Paul Bryant or his Bristol team mate Gerry Coffield - just one step from the national finals.

To complete a fine treble and superb six days Easton, Price and Moore (skip) were joined on Tuesday night by Paul Macdonald for the Area 30 national fours championship semi-final.

They beat the North Wilts rink of Bob George, Steve Snook, Justin Davis and Wayne Snook 24-11 to clinch a place in the Area 30 fours championship final.

The first half of the match was tight with Moore only leading Wayne Snook 8-6 at ten ends. But then his foursome pulled away to lead 17-9 at 16 and then score counts of three and four on the 19th and 20th ends to seal a comfortable 24-11 success and reach another area final.

In the other fours semi-final Keith Bailey (Clarrie Dunbar) has still to play Bristol’s Paul Bryant.

Clarrie Dunbar rink of Duncan Baxter, Kenny Wilkins, Alan Brown and Mike Sawyers are through to the inter-area final of the Over 60s Fours Championship and will face Taunton Deane.

Baxter’s team booked their place in the inter-area showdown with a 22-20 victory over Mike Humphries foursome from Bristol. They led 22-17 going into the last end of the Area 30 final.

But fellow Clarrie team mates Paul Hewitt and Fred Pope were edged out of their Area 30 Over 60s pairs semi-final going down to Bristol’s Terry Barnes and his partner 23-21.

And Clarrie Dunbar’s quartet of Thelma Deane, Jo Dunford, Teresa King and Ailsa Midwinter were edged out in the Area 30 ladies fours championship final losing to North Wilts’ Janet Hardie, Val Molton, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs 22-18.

Midwinter led for most of the match but then got caught at the end.

Clarrie were 4-3 up at five ends, 10-6 at ten and 16-8 at 15.

They then dropped a four on the 16th end but still led 17-12 at 17, however, the next proved to be crucial and the turning point.

Clarrie held three shots but North Wilts skip Jacobs with her last wood killed the end and on a re-spotted jack her team managed to collect a big count of six and edge ahead 18-17.

Midwinter then levelled with a single but her deflated rink then dropped a one and a three to finally lose 22-18.

CLARRIE Dunbar's hopes of success in this season’s Egham Trophy were ended last weekend.

In their delayed fifth round (last 16) match in the national mixed inter-club championship competition they were beaten 93-61 by a strong Torquay United side containing several current England junior and senior internationals.

Torquay took the initiative from the outset and led across the board by 20 shots after ten ends.

Clarrie only managed to take the honours on one of the four rinks with Russell Francis home quartet the lone victors by three shots.

CLARRIE Dunbar will be looking for better fortunes tomorrow (Saturday) when they face Bristol away in the third round (last 32) of the National Mixed Top Club competition.

And on Sunday when the men meet local rivals Christie Miller in the Wessex League.

Seven players from Clarrie Dunbar were members of the Somerset side that were narrowly beaten 108-106 in the Liberty Trophy by Essex at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) in the quarter-finals of the men’s inter-county championship last weekend.